The West 7th/Fort Road Federation announced the 13 winners of their West 7th VIBE program, offering small grants along two tracks for artists and businesses along West 7th.

The initial grant recipients include artist Karen Sieber for her “West 7th Memory Project,” a mural on the 620 Club, a partnership between Joseph Giambruno, artist Joel Terry and Bad Weather Brewing Company for a new sculpture and trellis, artistic branding for the W 7th Arts District, Photographer Ethan Smith’s “St Paul’s West 7th Neighborhood – Past and Present” project, a collaboration between Nine Lives Thrift and Pilates for the People, a Croctoberfest event at Bad Weather Brewing, funding for a Turkey Dinner and West Fest at Saint Stanislaus Church, RETHINK by Kristen McCoy, a mending meetup & mend-along clinic series with RETHINK, rotating community based conversations with the Community Reporter and a holiday makers market at Tease Salon.

The West 7th VIBE program, which stands for Vibrant Initiatives for Businesses & Events Activation, funded projects along two tracks. The first funded up to $10,000 for public art and artist lead projects. The second provided up to $1,000 for free community events and corridor activations.

The VIBE program is funded through the City of St. Paul’s new Commercial Corridor Program, which set aside $1.4 million to improve specific commercial corridors in the city.